LWF Young Leaders Engaging HIV and AIDS

Young Lutherans participate in the International Aids Conference 2008 in Mexico City

General Information

Background

Every other year, a variety of Civil Society and UN organizations organize the International Aids Conference. In 2008, it is going to take place in Mexico City under the theme “Universal Action now”.

Many thousand participants are working on topics from cutting-edge scientific research, public policy advocacy and exchange among activists.

The Lutheran World Federation is sending a delegation consisting of three groups:

- Communicators covering the event in a ecumenical framework

- Church Leaders active in the fight against AIDS

- Youth/Young adults who are active in their churches in HIV and AIDS related work

Goals for LWF Youth Participation

1. To contribute a strong voice of young Christians in the youth participation of AIDS 2008.
2. To equip young leaders for their ground breaking work in their home context by providing them with global exposure in the field.

Program

The program consists of the following elements:

1. Participation in the Ecumenical Pre-Conference including caucusing with other Christian Youth in order to coordinate the youth voice for the main conference.
2. Participation in AIDS 2008 to advocate for youth concerns and to improve the participant’s project proposal.
3. One-day debriefing workshop in order to discuss the outcome of the conference and to apply it to the needs of the participant’s project.

Participants

The participants of the project are youth between the ages 18-30.

They have a strong interest and some experience in HIV and AIDS related work in the framework of LWF member churches. They have a strong and innovative idea for an activity in the field that has a realistic chance of being implemented without being dependent on LWF funding.

Timeline

31 July - 2 August 2008 Ecumenical Pre-Conference in Mexico City

3 - 8 August 2008 International Aids Conference in Mexico City

9 August 2008 Debriefing workshop for LWF participants in Mexico City

10 August Departure

Application

All applicants have to apply with the official application form and need a church endorsement from the head office of a member church of the Lutheran World Federation (http://www.lutheranworld.org/Directory/Welcome-EN.html)

Please click on this link to download the application form in the word format: Application form for LWF Youth participation at AIDS 2008

Further Information

The Aids Campaign of the LWF http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/LWF-HIV_AIDS.html

The Ecumenical Pre-Conference

http://www.e-alliance.ch/iac08_preconf.jsp

The International Aids Conference 2008

http://www.aids2008.org/